A garda who was awarded a Scott medal for bravery in disarming a gunman has been awarded €50,000 damages in a High Court Garda Compensation hearing after suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

A garda who was awarded a Scott medal for bravery in disarming a gunman has been awarded €50,000 damages in a High Court Garda Compensation hearing after suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Mr Justice Bernard Barton said Garda Paul Carney (37) from Leixlip Garda Station, had acted very bravely when he and his colleague, Garda Thomas Ryan, disarmed two robbers in Celbridge, Co Kildare.

The robbers were seen fleeing a jewellery shop with a handgun before they split up and the gardaí gave chase.

Gda Carney said the robber he was chasing stopped and pointed the gun at him in a military stance. "It was like my worst nightmare. I feared for my life but I had no option but to engage with him," Gda Carney told the court.

He disarmed him and threw away the gun. Just as he was about to handcuff the gunman, the second robber approached, picked up the gun, pointed it at Gda Carney and shouted at him to release his partner in crime.

Gda Carney said he expected to be shot and turned his head away. When he looked back, the man was running away, having discarded the firearm. Both gardaí succeeded in apprehending the two robbers. Gda Carney later developed PTSD.

Awarding Gda Carney €50,000 against the State, Judge Barton said it was a very traumatic incident and Gda Carney had acted very bravely.